Support for shiftable curtain rods



Feb. 22, 1949. w. e. ANDERSON 2,462,344

SUPPORT FOR SHIFTABLE CURTAIN RODS Filed Feb. 18, 1948 9- 7 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM G. fl/vpskso/v, BY

TTORNEY Patented Feb. 22, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SUPPORT FOR SHIFTABLE CURTAIN RODS William G. Anderson, Hollywood, Fla. Application February 18, 1948, Serial No. 9,289

4 Claims. (Cl. 248-264) This invention relates to supporting devices and particularly to devices for supporting curtain rods. such as the rods for suspending shower bath curtains.

Shower bath curtains, either used in connection with the conventional bath tubs or shower stalls, have been suspended directly above the outer rim of the tub, or directly above the curbing normally used in shower stalls. It has been found, that curtains so suspended, are most frequently shoved to one end of the supporting rod and lie against the inner wall of the tub or the inner wall of the curb while wet and, when left in this position, absorb the body grease into the fabric of the curtain, resulting in a discolored.) mildewed and eventually ruined curtain, such discoloring and mildewing being difiicult to remove and causing the fabric to rot and tear.

It is an object of the present invention to provide means for suspending the shower curtain in a manner that will permit the shifting of the supporting rod to cause the curtain to be spaced a suitable distance from the walls of the tub or curb for permitting a proper drying thereof, such spacing permitting a free circulation of air thereabout, hastening dripping of the water therefrom.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a rod support constructed in a manner to serve as an integral wall tile or as a replacement support for rod holders now in use and so designed and formed as to provide an elongated groove for the reception of the end of the rod to permit the shifting of the rod from one end to the other of the groove.

Another object of the invention resides in a rod support provided with a rod supporting groove to permit the shifting of the rod with the groove terminating in pockets at either end to retain the rod in either adjusted position.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a rod support that is constructed in the manner above stated and having an intersecting groove for permitting the entry of the rod to or complete removal from the shifting groove.

Other and important objects of the invention will readily present themselves during the course of the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings;

Figure 1 is a face view of a rod support constructed in accordance with the invention and illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof,

Figure 2 is a top edge View thereof,

I Figure 3 is a horizontal section thereof, taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a transverse section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 1,

Figure 6 is a horizontal section, similar to Figure 3, but illustrating a modified form of the invention,

Figure 7 is a face view of a further modified form of the invention and,

Figure 8 is a transverse section taken on line 88 of Figure 7.

Like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring specifically to the drawings and particularly Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, the numeral 5 designates a rod support as a whole, formed rectangular in shape and having its edges bevelled as at 6. The support 5 is preferably of a size corresponding to two conventional ceramic tiles as employed in wall construction and it is contemplated that this support shall be made in ceramic, plastic, metal or any other desirable material and may be placed in the wall similar to other bathroom fixtures. However, it will be obvious, that the support may be substituted for 1nd supports now in use by application thereof to the tile wall and retained by suitable means, such as screws or other fastening means.

The support 5 is provided with an elongated, horizontally extending groove 1 for the major portion of its length and this groove terminates at either end in downwardly extended pockets 8. A vertically extending groove 9 communicates with the groove 1 and extends to the upper edge of the support. The groove 9 serves as a means for permitting the entry of the end of the rod l 0, shown in dotted lines. The circumference of the grooves and 9 are provided with a continuous outwardly extending rib or bead as a means for extending the inner bearing surface of the groove to provide a relatively wide sliding surface for the rod [0 without increasing the thickness of the support. countersunk screw holes H are provided in the support adjacent the ends of the groove 1 for the passage of securing means when the device is used for replacement. While but a single support is described, it will be obvious that one is used at either end of the rod.

In the use of this form of the invention, the support is mounted to the wall either as an integral tile or as a replacement, with the left hand pocket 8 arranged substantially over the line of the bath tub rim. This arrangement positions the opposite pocket 8 inwardly of the tub rim a distance of approximately four inches. The support projects from the wall a distance equal to the bevel 6, bringing the rear wall of the groove 1 flush with the surrounding tiles in original installations. Since the rear wall of the groove 9 is in the same plane with the rear wall of the groove 1, it follows that the rear walls of the grooves l and 9 are flush with the surrounding wall area and offers no obstacle to the insertion of the rod end. The rod l havin been cut the required length, the ends are passed through the grooves 9 and rest upon the annular bearing wall of the groove 1. It is desired that the ends of the rod have approximately a sixteenth of an inch clearance from the rear walls of the grooves for permitting easy shifting. When the curtain is employed during a shower, the rod is bodily shifted to the left hand pocket 8, causing the curtain to lie against the inner front wall of the tub. After the shower is completed, the rod is bodily shifted to the right hand pocket, which action causes the curtain to be suspended in spaced relation to the wall of the tub, permitting rapid drying and avoiding the absorption of body greases and soap that have accumulated on the walls of the tub.

Referring now to Figure 6, wherein is shown a modified form of the invention, the numeral I2 designates the support as a whole, formed as a sheet metal stamping. This form of the support is identical in all respects to the first form of the invention and embodies the grooves I and 9 andpockets 8. While it is contemplated that these supports shall be made of metal, it is obvious that other materials may be employed with equal success, such for instance as plastics and may be colored to correspond to various shades of commercial tile. The openings H are provided for the passage of suitable fastening devices having flush heads.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 7 and 8, a support has been indicated broadly at 13, being identical in shape and size to the first form of the invention. The support I3 is provided with the horizontally arranged groove M, terminating at each end in pockets 15, also corresponding in shape and size to the groove 1 and pockets 8 of the first form. The intersecting vertically arranged groove I6 is provided for the insertion and removal of the curtain rod H, see Figure 8. The grcovesi l and 16 are provided with a lateral undercut groove l8, extending throughout the length of the combined grooves I4 and I6 and terminating upon, the upper bevelled edge of the support. The groove 3 serves as a combined guide and retaining means for a flange l9, formed upon a thimble 20.. The thimble 29 at assembly engages within the open end of the rod I1 and serves to definitely retain the rod against accidental displacement from the groove I4 in the event the rod has been out too short. The flange l9 further serves to avoid the tendency of rod to twist during its shifting action from one pocket to the other. Openings 2 I serve for the passage of fastening means when the device is employed as replacement supports. It is contemplated that this form of the invention shall be formed of ceramic, metal, plastic or other desirable material.

The operationlof all forms of the invention are identical and each serve to shift a curtain rod and its suspended curtain to a position where it"will befreely suspended from contact with 4 the walls of a bath tub or the wall of a shower stall curb.

It will be seen from the foregoing that an extremely simple and novel form of shower curtain rod support has been provided. The device may be made in ceramics to correspond to commercial ceramic tile for use in original installations similar to the well known bathroom accessories. It is made in such size as to cover the area normally employed by two conventional tile and when used as replacement, will be placed over the old tile and secured in position by screws, toggle bolts or 0t er fastening devices, requiring no highly skilled labor for their installation. The devices are ornamental in appearance, cheap to manufacture, highly efficient in use and serve to protect the bottoms of shower curtains from staining and mildewing which, as is well known results in thousands of dollars a year for replacement of such curtains. The rods and their suspended curtains are quickly and easily shiftable from one position to the other with a minimum of effort.

.t is to be understood, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangement shown, but that it includes within its purview, whatever changes fairly come within either the terms or the spirit of the appended claims.

Playing des ri zed my invention, what I claim is: l. A curtain rod end support comprising rectangular shaped fiat body portion having its edges bevelled, a guide and support groove formed in face of the body portion and extending horizontally for the major portion of the body portion, said groove provided with downwardly extending pockets at its extremities, said groove slidably r ceiving the end of the rod, said rod end slidable in the groove for alternate engagernent in the pockets and a vertically arranged groove formed in the face of the body portion and communicating with the first named groove and the outer edge of the body.

A curtain rod end support comprising a rectangular shaped flat body portion having its forward edges bevelled, a horizontally arranged relatively deep groove formed in the forward face of the body portion and extending for the, major portion of the length of the body, said groove terminating at either end in downwardly ofiset pockets, a second groove formed in the face of the body portion communicating with the first named groove and extending to the outer edge of the body portion, said body portion provided with a projecting rib extending entirely around the circumferential edges of the grooves and pockets, openings formed in the body portion adjacent the ends of the first named groove for the reception of fastening devices, said first named groove slidably supporting the end of a curtain rod to be moved from end to end of the groove for alternate engagement in the opposite pockets.

3. A curtain rod end support according to ciaim 2 wherein said support is formed by a stamping of sheet metal.

4. A structure of the character described for the slidable support of the terminal ends of a curtain rod comprising a rectangular shaped fiat body portion formed relatively thick and having its forward circumferential edges bevelled, a longitudinally extending horizontally arranged groove formed in the forward face of the body portion for the reception of the rod end, said groove having its ends terminating in offset downwardly directed pockets, a vertically positioned and centrally disposed gro'ove formed in the for- 6 adjacent its ends for the reception of fastening means.

WILLIAM G. ANDERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the fiie of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Hills Oct. 9, 1917 10 Number 

